A Hat Full of Spells

Gr 2–5—This follow-up to Upside Down: A Vampire Tale (Top Shelf, 2012) is a quirky and fun romp for graphic novel fans. Harold, the candy-loving vampire protagonist, is plagued by nightmares about the return of witches and his foe Vermillion from book 1. He finds a mysterious book of spells, and suddenly witch hats begin appearing around town, each loaded with one last spell that must be cast. It is up to Harold to find the remaining hats and ensure the world's safety. While it takes some time for the plot to pick up, the novel is heartfelt and humorous. Readers will be amused by Harold and the colorful cast of characters, including a set of "uninvisible" flying frogs. While it may be beneficial to have read the first installment in the series, it is not necessary. The book has a spooky theme, with simple drawings and a distinctive green, black, and white color scheme, making it ideal for Halloween. It will appeal to fans of Jennifer and Matthew Holm's "Babymouse" series (Random) and Jarrett Krosoczka's "Lunch Lady" series (Knopf), which have a similar balance of humor and action.